Refrigerating apparatus



lNuv- 12, 1940' G. D. REINHARDT REFRIGERAT ING APPARATUS Filed April 1l, 1938 2 SheeS--Sheel l Noif. 12, 19401 G. D. REINHARDT REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed April 11, 1933 Ziff 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 grime/14M Geofye @em/2am@ PatentedNov. 12, 1940` s UNITED STATES PATENTA .OFFICE l 2,221,423 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS George D. Reinhardt, San Antonio, YTerr. Application April 11, 1938, Serial No. 201,248

7 claims. icl. c2c-14n This invetionrelates to new and useful improvements in refrigerating-apparatus, which is generally known as an ice accumulator.

One object oi the invention is to provide an f improved refrigerating apparatus which is simple vin construction andinexpensive in 'operation and which is particularly adapted for )use in places where refrigeration is needed only at intervals,l

such as church auditoriums. assembly Ahalls, mortuaries and the like. i An important object of the invention is to provide an improved ice accumulator wherein ice is formed and accumulated within cooling compartments and wherein the water, or other liquid,

to be cooled, is circulated through the cooling compartments; there being positive means for effecting a uniform and progressive cooling of the ,water as itflows through the compartments in c ontactwith the accumulated ice, whereby a uniform temperature at all levels of the water in -I each compartment is maintained.

, ceeding compartment; such transposition of the water, as it flows from onecompartment into the next succeeding compartment, producinga uniform temperature of water at all levels in each compartment, -whereby the iowingiwater is prevented from ment.

Still vide an improved transposition unit for refrigerating apparatus which includes a casing divided into two sections, one` of which has aninlet at its top with an outlet at its bottom while the other has an inlet at its' bottom andfan outlet at its top, wherebyv water flowing through the i casing is'transposed and thoroughly admixed.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be Hereinafter described, 'together 0 with other features of the invention.

The invention will be lmore readily understood-4 from a `reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, inv examplel of the invention is shown, and

which an whereinz' channeling through thecompartanother object of thel invention is to pro- Figure 1 is a plan view of a refrigerating apparatus, constructed in accordance with the invention, having its top removed,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view, taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view,`

taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, l Figure i is an enlarged plan view of one of the transposition units in position within the cooling chamber,

Figure 5' is an isometric view or one of the transposition units,

Figure '6 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view,.t'a.ken on the linev 6-6 of` Figure 5, and

Figure '7 is a transverse, vertical, sectional'.

view, taken on the line 'I--l of Figure 5.

vIn the drawings, the numeral Il designates. tank or housing which is substantially rectangular in cross-section. Y,'Ihe walls of the tank are preferably insulated,',while the upper end thereof is closed byca suitable top Il. The interior of the tank forms a cooling chamber and cooling coils I2 are disposed in said chamber. `The coils extend longitudinally within the chamber, as clearly shown in Figure 1, and form a closed refrigerating system through which a suitable rel frigerant is circulated by means'of a compressor (not shown). A plurality of partitions I3, I3a, I3b and I3c extend longitudinally through the cooling chamber and divide said chamber into longitudinal compartments A, B, C, l)V and E. Communication between the compartments is established by terminating the partitions shortv of the end wall of the tank, for example, one end of partition I3 is spaced from the end wall to provide an opening Af between the compartments A and B. The opposite end of the next partition I3a is spaced from the opposite end wall of the tankl to form an opening B whichvestablishes communication between the ycompartments B and C. Similar openings C and D' are provided at the ends of the partitions I3b and |30 and by observing "Figure 1, it will be seen that the openings 'A' to D' are staggered or alternately located jat opposite ends of the successive compartments,

whereby water introduced, through the inlet pipe I4, into the compartment A must 110W ,longitudinally through each compartment A, B, C, D and E to reach the outlet I5. Y.

Within each of the openings A', Bf, C'. and`D, a transpositionunit I6 is mounted and the'water in'one compartment must ilow through this unit` to reach the next succeeding compartment. The

unit is clearly shownin Figures 5 to 7 and coniprises a casing Il having its top,'bottom and each plate has one mamy of each parution ure 4).. 'Ihe ends of the compartment are, open same height as the tank i! and is located cenwithin the opening (Figso that the water may ow therethrough.

A central, vertical partition I8 divides the casing into two sections |1a and |1b. VThe sections I'Ia has the upper half of its influent end closed by aclosure panel Ha, whereby water can enter this section only through the lower half of its influent. end. A pair of angular deiiecting plates or ilumes 2li extend transversely within the section I'Ia and as is clearly shown in Figure 6,

end of thesection below the panel 19a. The plate is then bent upwardly so as to extend vertically, after which it is bent outwardly so as to terminate at the outlet end of the section lla. The angular plates or umes form angular channels 2l within the section Ila which channels extend from thelower end of the section to the upper end `thereof'. The lower half of the outlet end of the .section is closed by a closure panel 22a. With this arrangement, the water. entering thev section Ila must enter the lowervpor-ti'on thereof, after which it is directed upwardly therethrough and then escapes from the upper portion thereof.

The section l1b is constructed in the same manner as the section Ha except that the lowerhalf of its inlet end is closed bya panel 22, whereby the water must enter the upper half thereof (Fig. '1). Thel angular flumes 20 extend from the upper portion of the'inlet end of the'section to the lower end portion of the outlet end. A panel iiiv closes lthe upper half of the outlet end of the section Hb and thus, water enters vthe upper portion of this section, and is directed downwardly therethrough and escapes from the lower end thereof.

From the foregoing, it will be manifest that when water ows through the transposition unit, the upper stratumiof wat-er enters the section I1b, while the lower stratum of water enters the section IIa. The water owing through the section Hb flows downwardly, while the water flowing through the section |1a is directed upwardly, whereby as the water is admixed so that that which was on top is on the ebott'om, and vice versa,'after passing through the unit. As explained, one of the units I6 is located in each opening between Athe compartments of the cooling chamber and, therefore, as the water flows from one chamber to the next, it is transposed, or admixed, so as to maintain a uniform temperature of the water in each compartment.

In operation, the tank is filled with water and said -water is not circulated, but remains quiesl cent. The compressor (not shown)4 is started so as to circulate the refrigerant through the coils I2, whereby the quiescent water contacting the coils is cooled. This water, inl close proximity to the coils, eventually congeals to ice and the ice accumulation soon lls the space between as shown in Figure 3, whereby solid walls of i are formed within the tank.

When this occurs, the unfrozen water' remaining in the tank is circulated lthrough 'the compartments A, B, C, D and E, by means of a pump (not'shown) which is located exteriorly of the tank I0. From the outlet line, the water isconducted to the parts to be refrigerated.

The water circulating through the compartments of the tank contacts and ows along the ice walls and is thereby cooled. As the water A 2,221,423 'sides closed. The casing is `substantially of the end terminating at the inlet ows from one compartment to thenext, it

' passes through one of the transposition units ii and is thus transposed and-admixed. The water is thus maintained atv a' uniform temperature throughout and will act with uniform effect upon the ice. with the result that the ice wall is uniformly melted. This prevents channeling of the water and insures highest eiliciency of the apparatus.

After prolonged operation, the ice will be melted and reduced to cold water'which may be used for refrigerating purposes. The compressor (not shown) may continue to operate, if desired, while the water is circulated, in which' case of meltage of the ice is reduced and the period of refrigeration may thus be prolonged. The device is particularly adaptable for use in build ings or places where refrigeration is only needed at intervals, as for example, churches. The originalcost or investment is slight .and the operating expense is low. When used in a church, the refrigerant may be circulated for a day or vtwo beforeuse so as to freezesuflicient ice for the purpose. By the time the ice has melted, the building is sufciently cooled so that the relatively small refrigerating unit may carry the load. The transposition units are important in that they maintain uniform temperature throughout the body'of water in eachcompartment so that the temperature of the water is gradually and progressively lowered as it flows through the compartments, which results in the highest possible eiliciency.

' The foregoing description ofthe invention is explanatory thereof and various size, shape and materials, as wellas in the de- ,tails of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l

1. A refrigerating apparatus including, a cooling chamber for receiving water to be cooled and divided into a plurality of compartments which communicate with each other, means within the compartments for' freezing a portion of the water therein to form ice, means for circulating the unfrozen water successively through the rate' changes in 'the 35 the compartments, whereby the fiowing water4 contacts the ice and is cooled thereby, and a transposition unit mounted between the successive -compartments whereby the water flowing from one compartment to the succeeding compartment must flow therethrough, said unit-having means for transposing the water sothat the water which is at the top of one compartment is directed to the bottom lof nextsucceeding compartment and the "water at the bottom of said first compartment is directed to the top of the succeeding compartment, which results in a mixing of the water so the temperaturethroughout the entire body is maintained uniform dur ingitsflow throughthechamber. i 2. A refrigerating appara including, a coolingchamber for receiving water divided into a plurality of compartments which communicate with each other, means within the compartments for freezing a portion of the water therein to form ice, means for circulating partments, whereby the flowing water contacts the ice and is cooled thereby. a casing mounted between the successive compartments so that the water flowing from one compartment to the succeeding compartment must pass through the to be-cooled and the unfrozen water successively through the oom- 7,0 l

casing, and angular channels within the casing for transposing the strata of the body oi water as the water flows therethrough.

3. A refrigerating apparatus including, a cooling chamber for receiving'uids tobe cooled and divided into a plurality of compartments which communicate with each other, means within the compartments for cooling the fluids,` means for circulating the iluids successively through the compartments, and a transposition unit mounted between the successive compartments whereby the fluid flowing from one compartment to the succeeding compartment must now-therethrough,

said unit having means for transposingthe fluid so that the uid which is at the top of one com- ,partment is directed to the bottom of the next ing chamber for receiving fluids to be cooled and divided into a plurality of compartments which communicate with each other, means within the compartments for cooling the iiuids, means for 4 circulating the fluidssuccessively through the compartments, a casing mounting between ythe successive compartments so that the iluid. ow-

ing from one compartment to the succeeding compartment must pass through the casing, and angular channels within the casingrfor transposing the strata of the body of uids as the-fluid ilows therethrough.

5. A refrigerating apparatuslncluding, a cooling chamber for receiving iiuids to be cooled and dividedvinto a plurality of compartments which communicate with each other, means within the compartments for cooling the fluids, means for circulating the fluids successively through the compartments, acasing mounted between the successive compartments so that the fluid idow-` ing from one compartment to the succeeding compartment must pass through the casing, and

means within the casing w for transposing the 4strata of the body of fluid as the iiuid ilows therethrough.

6. A refrigerating apparatus including, a cooling chamber for receiving fluids to becooled and divided-into a plurality of compartments which communicate with each other,l means within the compartments for freezing a portion of the fluid transposed as it flows through tions, one section having an inlet at its upper portion while the other section has an inlet atv its lower portion, means for directing the iiow entering the inlet in the first section downwardly through the unit and permitting its escape from the lower portion of said (section on the end opposite the inlet, and means for directing the ilow entering the inlet of the second' section upwardly through the unit and permitting its escape from the upper portion of the section on the end opposite the inlet, whereby when a body of uid is introduced into the unit through the inlet its strata are transposed as it flows through the unit.

'7. A reirigerating apparatus including, al c0o1- ing chamber for receiving fluids to be cooled and divided into a plurality of compartments which communicate with each other, means within the compartments for freezing a portion of the uid therein to form ice, meansV for circulating the unfrozen iluid successively through the compartments, whereby the flowing iiuid contacts the ice and is cooled thereby, a transposition unit mounted between the successive compartments whereby the fluid flowing from one compartment to the succeeding compartment must :dow therethrough, said unit being divided into two sections,l one section having an inlet at its upper portion while the other section has an inlet at its lower portion, transverse angular members, forming channels within the section for directing the flow entering the inlet in the flrst section downwardly through 'the unit and permitting its escape fromthe lower portion of said section on the end opposite the inlet, and transverse angular members forming channels within the section for ,directing the ilow entering the inlet of the second section upwardly through theI unit and permitting its escape from the upper portion of .the "section on the end opposite the inlet, whereby when a body of fluid is introduced into the unit through the inlet its strata are the unit.

GEORGE D. REINHARDT. 

